Lithuanian Parliamentarian Accused of Conspiracy, Sparks Debate on Rising Antisemitism
A wave of condemnation has followed accusations leveled against Lithuanian Member of Parliament Arūnas Gelūnas, alleging his involvement in organizing a state-level coup and ties to a convicted political party. The controversy, which erupted on social media platform Facebook on Friday, has ignited a broader discussion about the resurgence of antisemitic rhetoric and its potential connection to Kremlin-backed disinformation campaigns.
The initial claims were made by fellow parliamentarian Raimundas Žemaitaitis, who publicly asserted that Gelūnas is a “conspirator” and member of a “convicted party.” Žemaitaitis’ post,riddled with inflammatory language,even questioned Gelūnas’ true identity,suggesting his name is actually “aronas Gelbachas or gelonas.” The post quickly drew widespread criticism from across the political spectrum and within Lithuanian society.
Gelūnas responded on Saturday with a passionate statement,framing the attacks as a purposeful attempt to smear his character and exploit ancient prejudices. He drew a direct parallel between the current accusations and the antisemitic propaganda employed by the Nazi regime in the 1930s, warning that the Kremlin is now actively adopting similar tactics.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of love and empathy I’ve received these past few days,” Gelūnas wrote in his post. “It felt easy to withstand the vile and false attacks within such a Circle of Light. I will never forget this – it is one of the brightest moments of my life.”
However, Gelūnas emphasized that the attack extended far beyond a personal grievance. He noted the clear implication that he is a “Jew in disguise” orchestrating a state conspiracy, a trope with a deeply troubling history. “From the 1930s, these poisons have had a strong impact, and in Europe, such mass poisoning of minds cost the lives of six million Jews,” he stated.
He further argued that the Kremlin is now actively employing this same method of inciting division within Lithuanian society, a nation with a painful history of suffering during the 20th century. While acknowledging that overt antisemitism appears less prevalent among younger generations in Lithuania, Gelūnas expressed deep concern over the renewed targeting of the Jewish community.
“It is deeply painful that the Lithuanian Jewish community has been brutally insulted once again,” Gelūnas wrote. “This should not be happening.”
Gelūnas highlighted Lithuania’s standing as a democratic nation with strong protections for freedom of speech and the rule of law, pointing to the recent outpouring of support as evidence of a robust civil society. He urged citizens not to relinquish these gains to “occupiers,” invoking the memory of those who suffered under Soviet and Nazi rule.
He concluded his statement
Why did this happen? Raimundas Žemaitaitis, a fellow parliamentarian, publicly accused Arūnas Gelūnas of being a “conspirator” and member of a “convicted party” on Facebook, questioning his identity and implying he was concealing his Jewish heritage. this sparked accusations of antisemitism and Kremlin-backed disinformation.
Who was involved? The key figures are Arūnas Gelūnas (the accused parliamentarian), Raimundas Žemaitaitis (the accusing parliamentarian), and the Lithuanian jewish community, who felt targeted by the accusations. The Kremlin is also implicated as a potential instigator of the disinformation campaign.
What occurred? Žemaitaitis’s post ignited a firestorm of controversy, prompting Gelūnas to respond with a strong condemnation of the attacks as antisemitic and a tactic employed by the Kremlin to sow division. The incident has sparked a national debate about rising prejudice and external interference.
**how did it end?
